Method for setting TV environment through user authentication and apparatus thereof

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for setting a TV operation environment for users submitting authorizing passwords. The method of setting a user environment of a television (TV) includes displaying a plurality of icons of Identifications (IDs) for respective users, each of the IDs corresponding to an operation environment for a user. If an ID icon is selected among the displayed icons, a password corresponding to the selected ID icon is authenticated, and if a user is authenticated by the password, a preset operation mode for the user is set.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 2001-78180, filed Dec. 11, 2001 in the Korean Industrial Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to a digital television (TV) system, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for setting a TV environment in which a TV operation environment is set for each user through user authentication.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] In general, a TV system is a system that enables TV viewers to watch TV programs by processing broadcast signals containing the TV programs. The TV that is rapidly being developed is a multimedia apparatus where TV viewers can access a variety of information, regardless of age or general authority to access the same.

[0006] Recently, solid security has been demanded in apparatuses transmitting or storing a lot of information, such as computers. In the future, when digital TVs become more sophisticated with Internet access functions, security of information will then be a requisite. Particularly, there is a need to restrict access to harmful channels, e.g., restricting teens from watching particular TV programs. Thus, an accurate recognition of users is needed.

[0007] In addition, because of differences in age of users, or technological knowledge, there is a need for a more effective way of setting different channels or TV environments, e.g., standard volume states, image states, or sound effects.

[0008] Conventional TV systems have employed a method where a user environment is accessed through an On Screen Display (OSD) technique while the TV is turned on. Every user who wants to watch the TV turns on the TV and sets a preferred environment or selects a prestored user environment.

[0009] However, this conventional user environment setting includes problems. First, it is inconvenient for every user who wants to watch the TV to have to turn on the TV and set a preferred environment or select a prestored user environment. Second, it is necessary to have a separate menu to control security for information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of setting a TV environment for each user, where user convenience is accomplished by enabling an easy conversion of operation environments and preferred channel settings through user authentication, to satisfy a user's taste and preference in advance before watching the TV.

[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus to set a TV environment for each user, such that an operation environment and preferred channel setting are enabled, through user authentication, so as to satisfy the user's taste and preference in advance before watching the TV.

[0012] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

[0013] To accomplish the above and other objects, an embodiment of the present invention provides for a method of setting a user environment of a television (TV), including displaying a plurality of icons of Identifications (IDs) for respective users, with each of the IDs corresponding to an operation environment for a particular user. If an ID icon is selected among the displayed icons, a password is required to be authenticated corresponding to the selected ID icon. If the user is authenticated by the password, a preset operation mode for that user is then enabled.

[0014] To accomplish the above and other objects, an embodiment of the present invention provides for an apparatus to enable a user environment of the TV, including an input unit to generate an ID and password for each user, a memory unit to set operation environment parameters for each user for each user ID, and to store the parameters, a signal output unit to output a TV signal, and a control unit to receive an ID and password from the input unit, process user authentication, and set output signals of the signal output unit to environment parameters for each user stored in the memory unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

[0016]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention for setting a TV environment;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention for setting a TV environment; and

[0018]FIG. 3 is a diagram of a further embodiment of the present invention showing a method of setting a TV environment on a screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Reference will now made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

[0020]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention for setting a TV environment, including an input unit 110, a receiving unit 120, a control unit 130, a memory unit 140, and a signal output unit 150. The signal output unit 150 includes an image output unit 152, an audio output unit 154, and an OSD output unit 156.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, the input unit 110 may correspond to a remote controller, through which a user inputs the user's own proper number (hereinafter referred to as “ID”) and a password in order to set a desired environment.

[0022] The receiving unit 120 may receive the ID and password from the input unit 110 wirelessly or via wire.

[0023] The memory unit 140 stores operation environment parameters for each user, for example, a picture quality, color preference, sound effect, an OSD location, and preferred channel list information.

[0024] The control unit 130 processes user authentication by receiving the ID and password from the input unit 110. If the user's password is the same as a prestored code, the control unit 130 sets signal output parameters of the elements of the signal output unit 150, that is, the image output unit 152, the audio output unit 154, and the OSD output unit 156, to environment parameters for each user stored in the memory unit 140. Also, the control unit 130 sets a channel according to a preferred channel list stored in the memory unit 140. In addition, the control unit 130 issues an ID for each user through a master ID, sets authorization rights for access to particular channels, and displays a plurality of user IDs as icons on the screen in an initial user environment mode.

[0025]FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention for setting a TV environment.

[0026] First, a master ID, which manages IDs and passwords of all users, is set in an initial phase, in step 212. Using the master ID, an ID and operation environment for each user can be stored in the memory. Examples of the operation environment include a preferred channel list, sound effect, volume level, and a screen state that the user prefers, though it is not limited thereto.

[0027] Then, when power is provided, the TV operates in the operation environment of a channel that is set to default values.

[0028] Next, it is determined whether or not a user environment mode key is input, in step 214.

[0029] Next, if the user environment mode key is input, each of the IDs for users are displayed in the form of icons, in step 218. An example of this is shown as section (a) of FIG. 3. That is, on the screen, ID icons for “father”, “mother”, “son”, “grandmother”, “all members of family”, and “MASTER” are displayed. At this time, “MASTER” manages all IDs displayed on the screen.

[0030] Next, if the user selects a desired ID icon, in step 220, a scene requesting the user to input the user's password is displayed. An example of this is shown as section (b) of FIG. 3.

[0031] If the user selects an icon “father evening,” a scene requesting the password for the icon is displayed. At this time, in a further embodiment, instead of displaying the ID icon on the screen, the user may request a password input scene by inputting the user's ID to the input terminal of the TV. At this time, with one user ID, a plurality of users can access the TV. For example, the ID “all members of family,” as shown in section (a) of FIG. 3, can be shared by a plurality of authenticated users. Also, one user can access the TV with a plurality of IDs. For example, as shown in section (a) of FIG. 3, a plurality of IDs such as “father” and “father evening” can be used by one user.

[0032] Next, if the user inputs a password, in step 222 of FIG. 2, it is determined whether or not the input password is correct, in step 224. At this time, if the password input by the user is not the same as a stored code, the scene displaying ID icons appears again.

[0033] If the password input by the user is the same as the stored code, an acceptance scene, as illustrated in section (c) of FIG. 3, is displayed.

[0034] Next, if the password authentication is successfully finished, the TV environment is set to a user environment that is stored in memory, in step 228 of FIG. 2. If the user logs out, in step 230, the user environment is terminated, and a scene of the default environment setting is executed. At this time, in another embodiment, if the authentication is successfully finished, preferred channel lists set for respective users may be displayed.

[0035] At this time instead of logging out, if a user environment conversion key is input, in step 232, the previous user environment stored in memory is converted into another environment, in step 234.

[0036] Meanwhile, if the authenticated password is the master ID, in step 226, the master environment for managing all user IDs and passwords is set, in step 242. At this time instead of logging out, in step 244, if another user environment setting key is input, in step 246, the master generates an ID for the other users and sets environments for the user, in step 248. Also, the master may delete user IDs and environments.

[0037] The present invention may be embodied in code, which can be read by a computer, e.g., on a computer readable recording medium or transmitted to the computer in carrier waves, noting that code may include applets performing portions of the present invention or an entire program for controlling the computer to perform the present invention. The computer readable recording medium may also include all kinds of recording apparatuses on which computer readable data are stored.

[0038] The computer readable recording media can include storage media such as magnetic storage media (e.g., ROMs, floppy disks, hard disks, etc.), optically readable media (e.g., CD-ROMs, DVDs, etc.) and the aforementioned carrier waves (e.g., transmissions over the Internet or an Intranet). Also, the computer readable recording media can be scattered on computer systems connected through a network and can store and execute a computer readable code in a distributed mode.

[0039] As described above, according to embodiments of the present invention, preferred channels, sound effects, volume levels, and screen states that a user likes are stored in advance, and through authentication, the preset environment can be protected from other users access. For a family with children, the children can be protected from harmful channels. Also, since the master ID manages all the user IDs and passwords, a plurality of people can access a user environment with one ID.

[0040] Although a few preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of setting a television user environment, comprising: displaying a plurality of icons of Identifications (IDs) for respective users, each of the IDs corresponding to an operation environment for a corresponding user or group of users; authenticating an entered password corresponding to an ID icon selected among the displayed icons; and setting an operation mode of the television user environment for the corresponding user or group of users to a preset operation mode in response to the authentication of the entered password.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation mode is a preferred channel list for the corresponding user or group of users.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying a channel list for the corresponding user or group of users on a screen if the entered password is authenticated.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein IDs of respective users and an operation mode for the television environment for each user are issued by a master.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the master manages all IDs and passwords of the respective users.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the master generates a plurality of ID icons for the respective users.
 7. The method of claim 4, wherein the master deletes the ID and a preset operation mode of the corresponding user or group of users.
 8. The method of claim 4, further comprising: setting user IDs and operation modes for other users if a corresponding password is confirmed as a master ID.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining whether to convert an operation mode of an identical user after switching to the preset operation mode for the corresponding user or group of users; and converting the operation mode for the identical user if an identical user operation mode conversion is selected.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: switching to a user default operation mode if the entered password does not match a stored password.
 11. An apparatus for setting a television user environment, comprising: an input unit to generate an ID and password for each of a plurality of users and/or group of users; a memory unit to set and store operation environment parameters for each of the plurality of users or groups of users for each corresponding user ID; a signal output unit to output a television signal; a control unit to receive an ID and password from the input unit, process user authentication based on the ID and password, and set the output signals of the signal output unit according to operation environment parameters for each user or group of users stored in the memory unit.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the signal output unit further comprises an image output unit to display the television signal, an audio output unit to output audible information from the television signal, and/or an on-screen-display output unit to control the display of on-screen information.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the signal output unit displays IDs in the form of icons for each of the plurality of users or group of users.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the ID is input by selecting one of the icons, the password is input after displaying an inquiry for a password by the signal output unit, and the user authentication includes comparing the ID and the password to a preset ID and password.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the input unit is a remote controller.
 16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control unit receives the ID and password wirelessly.
 17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the operation environment parameters comprise any of picture quality, color preference, sound effect, an on-screen-display location, and/or channel list information.
 18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the user authentication includes comparing the ID and password to a preset ID and password.
 19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each user within the group of users is authenticated based on the same ID.
 20. A medium carrying a code of a program to perform television user environment setting, comprising the code controlling a computer to: accept an input for selection of a user or user group ID; authenticate a password of the selected user or user group ID; and control the setting of operation environment parameters for a television system based on preset operation environment parameters for the corresponding user or user group ID.
 21. The medium of claim 19, wherein the medium is a computer recordable medium.
 22. The medium of claim 19, wherein the medium includes another computer providing the code on the Internet or an Intranet and/or a further computer receiving the code on the Internet or the Intranet.
 23. The medium of claim 21, wherein the code includes at least one applet performing any of the accepting, authenticating, and controlling.
 24. The medium of claim 19, wherein the medium includes another computer providing results of the program over the Internet or an Intranet, with the results including the set operation environment parameters.
 25. The medium of claim 19, wherein the medium is a wireless system including at least a receiver to receive the code or results of the program, with the results including the set operation environment parameters.
 26. The medium of claim 19, wherein the code controls the computer to output an image, an audio, and/or an on-screen-display.
 27. The medium of claim 25, comprising information relating to IDs to be displayed in the form of icons for each user or user group along with icons for a plurality of other users and/or user groups.
 28. The medium of claim 26, wherein the ID is input by selecting one of the icons, the password is accepted after displaying an inquiry for the password, and the authentication includes comparing the ID and the password to a preset ID and password.
 29. The medium of claim 19, wherein the operation environment parameters comprise any of a picture quality, color preference, sound effect, an on-screen-display location, and/or channel list information.
 30. The medium of claim 19, wherein the medium is a carrier wave.
 31. A method of setting a television user environment, comprising: displaying a plurality of icons of Identifications (IDs) corresponding to operation environments for respective users; authenticating a user entered password for a selected icon, wherein if the password is authenticated to be a Master ID password then the user is authenticated to set IDs and/or passwords and/or set television operation modes for a plurality of users or groups of users.
 32. The method of claim 31, further comprising: setting an operation mode of the television user environment for the authenticated user to a preset operation mode in response to an entered command.
 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the preset operation mode set by the user is one of the set television operation modes. 